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HarperCollins Publishers plans to build a 1.6 million-square-foot logistics facility in Brownsburg, the New York-based publishing company announced Thursday.
The facility, set to open in 2028, is expected to implement automated logistics systems similar to those used in the company’s warehouse in Glasgow, Scotland, where the company uses a robotic warehouse management system to process orders. When complete, the Brownsburg facility will have the capacity to ship an expected 300 million books a year, according to the company.
The facility is expected to create at least 400 supply-chain jobs and an additional 375 construction jobs, according to the news release.
“We are thrilled that HarperCollins Publishers chose to build this state-of-the-art facility in Brownsburg,” Town Council President Travis Tschaenn said in a written statement. “HarperCollins’s investment in our community will bring new, exciting employment opportunities and helps establish Brownsburg as an ideal location for business growth at the international level.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the facility announcement in Scotland, and after more than a decade of downsizing the company’s logistics operations while also growing revenue and increasing acquisitions.
“HarperCollins has experienced significant transformation and growth over the last 15 years, and now is the time to expand our North American footprint,” Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers, said in a written statement. “This state-of-the-art facility is an investment in our authors, our customers, and the future of our business, positioning us for growth.”
The publishing company said it is seeking local, state and electric utility incentives but did not provide additional information.
An application for incentives filed July 15 with the Brownsburg town manager’s office seeks a 10-year personal property tax abatement for a proposed construction referred to only as “Project Tahoe,” described as a supply chain logistics facility to support a “global publishing and printing platform.”
A representative for the town of Brownsburg confirmed Thursday that “Project Tahoe” is the HarperCollins project.
The project would include a $160 million construction cost, plus a personal property investment of $155 million. The project is estimated to generate $5.9 million in personal property tax revenue over the next decade, according to those documents, and an anticipated $1.2 million annually after the abatement period ends.
The application for local incentives also indicates the project has applied for $5.55 million in Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, tax credits from the state.
The facility would be located in the Ronald Reagan Logistics Park near Interstate 74 and County Road 900 East. The 61-acre parcel is currently zoned agricultural and is vacant, according to the documents.
A motion to recommend approval of the local incentives was dated Aug. 14. A public hearing to consider that recommendation is set for Aug. 28.
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